Vh1 Supersonic vs. Sunburn Goa: The Saga Continues

Axwell will headline Sunburn 2013 in Goa this year

It’s been an all-out battle between Live Viacom18 and Percept to host their respective year-end EDM festival in Candolim. After months of allegations of stealing PowerPoint presentations and attempts to influence local politicians leveled by both sides, Live Viacom18’s Vh1 Supersonic has been granted permission by Tourism board of Goa’s State Level Event Permission Committee to host a five-day festival between December 26th to December 30th at Candolim in north Goa. Meanwhile, Sunburn Goa will take place to its north, at Vagator, between December 27th and 29th.

Vh1 Supersonic, which is curated by event production company Submerge’s co-founder Nikhil Chinapa, will host EDM acts such as British trio Above & Beyond [who were in India last month for their four-city Group Therapy tour], John Fleming, American producer Brian Transeau aka BT, Swedish progressive house artist Albin Myers and house/techno DJ Funkagenda, among others.

While Vh1 Supersonic’s lineup includes the return of Above & Beyond in the same year and Myers coming back following his India tour in August last year, Sunburn Goa’s lineup includes a headline set by Swedish DJ Axwell, Dutch producer Afrojack and German electronica producer Timo Maas and a debut India performance by the likes of South African electronica duo Goldfish.

Says Jaideep Singh, senior vice president and business Head at Viacom18, “Despite the relentless allegations being directed towards us and Nikhil [Chinapa], whose deep knowledge of electronic dance music coupled with his association of more than a decade with Viacom18 is an asset to festival team, we chose to remain silent and maintain our stand to deliver an event that focuses on the music and not the controversy.”

With about 11 kilometers between the two venues, festival-goers and bassheads are going to be torn for choice, which is where pricing might come into play. While Sunburn Goa’s three-day season pass costs Rs 9,250, Vh1 Supersonic’s five-day season pass comes at Rs 5,500. Day passes for Sunburn Goa cost Rs 4,500 for day one and two, while entry to the final day of Sunburn Goa costs Rs 6,000. Vh1 Supersonic, on the other hand, is selling day passes for Rs 2,000 per day [with Rs 1,000 for entry on day one] and Rs 3,000 for the final day.